Though the path was deliberately long and winding, Kinara remembered where the mint was and had little trouble finding it again. Dutifully, he took his basket into the forest to gather the rare mint, and even sneak a small piece to savor its wonderful taste and aroma. While his sense of direction was good, his skill at escaping detection was not as well developed.
Coming from the forest, he had only traveled a short distance across the grassland when he sensed he was not alone. He began to glance about anxiously, his breath coming in quick tides. His pace quickened, and he knew his best hope was to get back to the cave as quickly as possible.
In the grass on either side, he could hear rustling. He began to run. Then all pretense of stealth was dropped and three mandrills came running after him. They quickly overtook him and while two held him by the arms, the third, a long time enemy named Jambazi, took his fist and plunged it time and time again into Kinara’s stomach. By the time they let him go, he crumpled into a miserable, moaning heap.
“Oh gods, help me!” he gasped. “Help me!” He lay there for several minutes before he could move. Then he slowly, painfully crawled about looking for the basket. It was gone, and the mint with it. He fell to the ground, exhausted.
Back at Busara’s cave, Kima was beside herself with anger and worry. “He’s been gone for hours! To think I was stupid enough to tell him where the mint was! To think I was stupid enough to trust him! He used me, the same way he’s used them all!”
The lioness Asumini rubbed against her. “I will kill him, honey tree. They will not trace it to you. He will pay for hurting my little Kima!”
“Not yet, my dear. Not yet. First I want to see him again and see what excuse he gives. It may be amusing to hear what lies he comes up with.”
“Still, I think a good quick bite to the neck will do him a world of good.”
“You’ll get your chance, I promise.” Kima reached down. She could feel the soft warm fur of the lioness and it gave her comfort. “You keep me sane, old girl. The kindness my husband showed you has been repaid many times over.” Kima smiled. “You must tell me all about it when you get through with him.”
Just then, a strange sound came from outside the cave. Kima got up and came to the mouth of the cave. She saw something moving toward her and ran to investigate. It was Kinara crawling on all fours, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. He heard her approach and looked up pitifully, holding out a trembling hand. “Kima, help me!”
Kima reached down and grasped his hand. She lifted him carefully to his feet and let him lean on her as he staggered into the cave. “What happened?”
“Jambazi found me. The coward had two of his friends with him. He won’t face me alone.” He wretched. “Thank the gods they don’t know where the mint is--I’ll never tell them even if they kill me.”
“Forget the mint,” she said. She got a gourd full of water and washed off his face. “Lie still on the bed! I will get you something for the pain.”
She mixed him a special tea, and got him some fresh grass for the bed. It was not long before he began to show improvement. “Thank the gods for you, Kima!”
“You were gone so long, I was worried about you.” She quietly resolved never to tell him what she had discussed with Asumini.
“My enemies. Once there was fear in their eyes, but now they only laugh at me. Look at the old fool!” Tears well up in his eyes. “How low I have fallen!”
He got his strength back overnight, especially when Kima worked his injured stomach and gave him a powerful soporific tea that made him sleep dreamless and deeply like a stone all night long.
The next morning with a resolve that was reminiscent of his old self, Kinara took the basket and started to leave again.
“You must be careful.”
“I will. I’m not going to go without a good hard stick. I’ll pound them into the ground!”
“We should tell the scribes and have them arrested.”
“The scribes would not help me. They hate me.” He patted her hand. “I learn who my true friends were too late.”
She shrugged. “Take care.”
Kinara left with his basket. Kima watched him from the cave mouth until he was far afield. She looked down at Asumini. “Follow him.”
Stoically, Kinara took another path. With the stick at his side, he felt a little more brave. He glanced about, anxious to spot trouble and change his path if necessary.
But without warning, an arm reached out from a bush and grabbed the club from his hand. “I was just thinking I wish I had a good club. And there it was!” It was Jambazi. He stepped out to face Kinara, and his two toughs came out quickly and cut off his escape.
They laughed and shoved him back and forth.
"You know, I tend to get what I want. I wanted a club and I got one. And right now, I’m in the mood for Tiko Root. You know, maybe a sprig or two. Maybe more? Know where I can get some?”
“Maybe from Makedde. My son keeps it in stock.”
“Maybe I want mine picked fresh, old fool. Where can I pull a sprig or two?”
“I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Oh you know, and you’ll tell me.”
“For the gods’ sake, leave me alone! I’m trying to help out a widow!”
“Oh, well if that’s all.” The leader makes a gesture. Without a word, the other two grabbed his arms and held him tightly. “As I see it, you killed Busara. We could help the old widow by sending her your ears in a gourd--or maybe your heart.” He laughed. “Of course we might work out something less violent. Maybe we could work out a trade here.”
“You don’t want to help her,” Kinara said. “You just want to steal her Tiko Root.”
“Aw, listen to that, guys! I’m hurt! Really wounded!” Jambazi drew up close to Kinara. “Fact is, we’re going to prove how wrong you are.” He pokes him in the stomach with the stick, making him yelp. “You’re going to show us where the mint grows, and we’re going to protect it for her. Understand?”
“I understand perfectly.” Kinara spit on him.
Jambazi wiped his face off, and with a forced grin said, “I think it’s time we taught you manners, old fool!” He felt of the stubs of broken branches on the end of the large stick. “Interesting possibilities, eh? Now where do we begin, Kinara? On the stomach, or on the ribs?”
He drew back the stick. “Answer me quickly, or I’ll do both.”
Jambazi felt a slight tug on the end of the stick. He tried to swing it, but it was caught on something. He looked around but saw nothing. “What the hell?”
With a huge yank, the stick came flying out of his hand.
“What are you doing?” one of the other bullies asked.
“I don’t know!” Jambazi began to back away. Maybe he knows magic, deadly magic. “Yeah, it’s either him or us!”
“But the root!”
“Forget the root!” Jambazi took a sharp-pointed digging stick that he wore around his waist and lunged at Kinara. Something sharp and thorny grabbed his ankle and he fell flat on his face.
Turning over, he looked up into empty air. Something heavy bore down on him. He looked around for his friends, but they were gone. “Oh gods! Oh gods! Something’s got me! Come back! Help!”
"So you like to beat up old folks?” a lioness’ voice growled. “Try me on for size!”
Jambazi dropped the stick and began to cry. “Don’t hurt me! Please don’t hurt me! Let me go!”
Hot, meaty breath enveloped his face, gagging him, and a voice spoke in his ear:
"If you or anyone else so much as touches a hair on Kinara's beard, there won't be enough of you left to make a meal for a jackal. You’ll be sure to tell your friends now, won’t you?
“Yes ma’am!”
“Now GET OUT!"
“Yes ma’am! Thank you, ma’am!”
As soon as Jambazi felt the weight lift from his chest, he scrambled to his feet and ran back toward the village.
Kinara stood quietly, afraid to move. He saw the footprints approach, then stop in front of him. A warm tongue bathed his hot face, and the smell of wild honey gently enveloped him. A faint shimmering outline appeared, and coalesced into Asumini's form.
“So the rumors are true.” His jaw trembled. “You saved me. I owe you my life.”
“You owe Kima your life. I’m just along to make sure you pay up.”
“Is that the only reason?” He reached out and stroked her cheek and the top of her head. "Can it be that there is forgiveness for old Kinara yet?"
The lioness shook her head. "No."
His face fell. “Then Aiheu has rejected me?”
“He has rejected the old Kinara.” A smile appeared on her face as she slowly helped him up. "You have rejected the old Kinara as well, so take heart."
He put his arms around her neck and hugged her.
She told him, “Busara prays for you and asks me to help you. So does your wife Neema and your parents. In fact, you have a lot of good friends for such an unprincipled, irritating little monkey.”
“Thanks, I think. I’m sure I deserve worse.”
“I see the good in you. I see it striving to come out. Once I found good in an unexpected place. Perhaps I will again.”
“In me, perhaps?”
“I will take care of you whenever you go out to help my lady. I will be your companion, and when you need it I will even give you some mothering.”
“Bless you! Bless you!”
She touched him with her warm tongue. “We will be good friends, Kinara. And this will be a bond between us that as long as the goodness in you prevails, I will watch over you. And my repentant friend, the minute you put the moves on Mrs. K, I’ll slowly skin you alive.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Agreed, my dear. But I wouldn’t worry. You’re much more my type.” He reached out and kissed her cheek.
“You still have that old charm, I see.” She licked her paw and purred softly.
That evening Kima was taking her walk when she saw Kinara by Busara’s funeral effigy--a small clay figure that represented him for grieving purposes. She stood silently in the concealing brush and listened.
Kinara was sobbing like a baby. Taking a large thorn, he jabbed it deeply into his palm and let the blood drip on the clay figurine. “I love you, Busara! Rest peacefully, old friend! Remember me.”
He looked up and saw the first bright star of night. “Kinara,” it whispered, “Remember the admonition.”
“Daima pendana,” he stammered. “Love one another.” Suddenly it became clear to him. It was not a mistake he must regret, but a sin he must repent for. It did not matter what Busara’s faith was, for he knew better. He had always known better, and so had the high priest! “God forgive me! Forgive me, God! Forgive me!” He wept, but a great weight was lifted from him. “I’ll never forget the admonition again! I swear!”
That night, Kinara went to his usual bed outside of the cave mouth. He stared at the sky, hoping to see a friendly star looking down on him. But the stars were quickly swallowed up by clouds from the west. The cool wind brought the smell of moisture, and it would have been great sleeping weather if he had been in a shelter. Instead he braced himself for what he knew was coming.
A cool drop fell and hit his nose. It was followed by its sister that wet his ear. Several more came, tapping lightly on the leaves of the tree where he huddled for shelter. Unfortunately, the tree was not very full, and as the drops increased in tempo, he felt the lucky ones pelt his fur. The wind strengthened, and as the storm matured, the rain bypassed the tree entirely, soaking him.
Lightning silvered the drops for an instant. A few seconds later, thunder roared its mighty challenge that no one dared oppose. “No sleep tonight,” Kinara thought to himself. His musing was punctuated by a second bright flash and underscored by another roll of thunder.
Kima came to the entrance. “Come in, Kinara.”
Without arguing his unworthiness, he came at once. She showed him to some dry bedding.
“Bless you.”
She saw blood on his hand. Pretending surprise, she asked, “What happened to you?”
“Oh this?” He timidly shrank from the question, but tears began to flow. It was some time before he could regain his composure.
“You did this to yourself, didn’t you?”
“The blood of my guilt,” he said. “No God craves the blood of the gentle and kind. Not Pishtim, and not Aiheu. I said there were circumstances when anyone would do what I did. Maybe so, but that still does not make it right.”
She looked at him with pity. “Now you truly understand. You cannot kill for God, and you cannot heal for the Makei. The only way to know God is to know love. That is the only real mystery of our faith.”
Kinara smiled. It was such a warm smile that Kima had to smile back. “You’re chilled. Let me fix you some hot tea.”